World News

Tuesday 30 October 2001 00:00 BST

Warning of more attack on US

America is in fear today, after a warning that militants may be plotting new attacks on the United States.
Attorney General John Ashcroft added to worries that the U.S.-led war on terrorism may be heading for trouble.

Forces stay in occupied territory

Israeli tanks, armour and troops held on to Palestinian-ruled areas in the northern West Bank, despite pressure for an immediate withdrawal.
Diplomatic pressure seems unable to move the troops, who entered Palestinian towns after the killing of an Israeli minister.

Kursk disaster caused by torpedo blast

The Russian official heading the government probe into the Kursk disaster said it was caused by one of the submarine's torpedoes exploding.
The nuclear-powered submarine sank in August last year after two explosions on board sent it to the bottom of the Barents Sea, killing all 118 servicemen on board.

Milosevic scorns war crimes tribunal

Slobodan Milosevic poured fresh scorn on the U.N. war crimes court yesterday.
The former Yugoslavian leader, on war crimes charges dating back ten years, refused to plead to "fabricated" charges as the counts against him mounted.

Argentina could default on national debt

Argentina's President Fernando de la Rua, worked to seal a huge debt swap deal as the nation stood on the brink of recession.
Besieged by delays in economic plans and doubts over De La Rua's leadership, markets plummeted on fears an effective default on its $132 billion debt was just around the corner.

Kabila: We want to end civil war

President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo reaffirmed his commitment to efforts to end a 3-year-old war ravaging his country.
Kabila said his government would take part in upcoming peace talks in South Africa.

Japan jobless at highest in years

Japan's unemployment rate jumped to a record 5.3 percent in September, government officials have announced.
The figure marks the highest unemployment rate since the 1950s, and experts are predicting that the nation's recession will continue.

Gang stage audacious prison breakout

In a scene straight out of Hollywood, a gang of heavily armed men slammed a truck into the wall of a prison in the centre of Rio de Janeiro, freeing 14 inmates.
The gang blocked traffic with one truck and hijacked an urban bus to block traffic coming from the other direction before tearing through the wall at the Polinter prison before dawn yesterday, officials said.

Love plays in bathroom

Rock 'n' roll bad girl Courtney Love performed for the president of a major record label in a backstage bathroom after her concert was cut short.
The unusual V.I.P. restroom gig was hastily arranged to give the unnamed label executive a chance to hear Love and her new band play a couple of songs after their set was cut short.